183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg46CxDfUJ
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYJaVxS9hP
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXXBy4HtoV
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNjpkRxHdt
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbizUzB15J3
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iWvV4TCY4
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DNMtDFJpp
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KR0n9FDZQ
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwWNPisjQz
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc63JbLIGvS
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR8CLMQ0h7
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsOdl80v9V
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZu6EdHL0c
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFlNqEJHTV
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcRM08SiqJ
the ranks of the worlds greatest military might.
Inside the singleton building, all the way in the room closest to the training ground, a man sat at his desk looking183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeQMRTDfb2
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtld5BXxVms
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GZMyYwCik
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNkPJOg1RI
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvp55vXIet
the letter. It was addressed to him.
Vander was in his twenty-fifth year of life and his eighth year as a Blade. He had been promoted to Captain a183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IDD4iUuqJ
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2kXckVaXG
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jilA8KUyJ
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EUmrkBkk7
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gOAggjazP
Alexander, who instructed them in hand-to-hand combat.
Alexander was a giant of a man standing well over six feet tall. His shoulders were broad, his arms the size183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNs3RQg6t6
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSCRFgFNs8
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zbnNVsVRs
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPOiRLQDG0
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSXbAprU3M
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLoy5RQAW3
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5P4ACi48g
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ701xzWBlFW
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NuFWLbFaE
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8ou6HKb0T
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGtdnmeDtC
the only life he knew.
He turned to look at his bed where a massive white wolf stared at him with concern in her eyes. Shea tilted her head183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhKlXwf2JT
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSDNUlIWr7
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTf4cNemWS
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso3KbsnJ7x
enough for Shea to snake her way through the opening.
He put the jacket on to protect himself against the cool springtime air as he left the building. The jacket was183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSynLhcigh
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g1s1TTAtF
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4zPDoZXjV
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdfq6nOq1e
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOBv506VUz
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQl9aAdvQA
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0deNPrN7yj
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmclbV4hTR
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpQPgIvCl4
the shade as her master did his duties.
Alex acknowledged him with a slight nod of his head, but he soon turned back to watch the trainees practice183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreVD1pScDq
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxgZBJll4a
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzLQS1zy9W
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuuBQQ54Vg
use muscle groups they didn’t normally use it their training.
“How’s everything coming?” Vander asked. He stood with his hands held behind his back, his eyes or demeanor183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzpa00cWvJ
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKX0Eyt9fK
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsZnLHsIMX
their progress is still slower than I would like.”
Vander watched as the siblings Rooster and Chicken squared off against each other. Rooster was bigger and183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVzH8pVaYW
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunGsQUXkN7
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PPYwCBl5U
headlock where his size would have the advantage.
He wasn’t quite sure where the two of them had come from before making their way to Eluvia, but they were both dead183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlyj0A972m
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDveMgSxmWR
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8EBdLC6Ko
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrS1NkVorE
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY9Taxz7uq
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBZYJzB2Hx
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bJGeNpE2D
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBaBasq29u
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmrMpqpJeo
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvxK84RCOS
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBHOvgf5E0
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PVhzaQ2o4
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXM0GiPzPi
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7aaFzPCT2
the rest could barely stand. Her dark black hair was tied back in a ponytail.
Briar and Forest, he was unsure if they were siblings or not, sat next to each other their faces unreadable. They183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SC7ohcSrM
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk7miVPPph
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwtoAXKoUe
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrumC1RjJvs
up against, she would throw hands with anyone who looked at her funny.
Forest was her opposite. He wore his blonde hair sheared short; his blue eyes always looked for a way to take his183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjp3zD8R6q
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnujvSmYvFs
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw4ldt0sjW
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcjAMRGyvS
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZ6Ob2YLO4
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgzfcO2jHp
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCMQ8I7Lxm
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHZZvi8KHL
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnj69WcCza
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5weIe0iJiS
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbojpwvq5O
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCiUhLOM1H
fired back with an answer.
“How about we fight him?” she suggested. “All we’ve done is fight each other while he sits on the sidelines183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVuarmyehL
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafeQmRIEeN
didn’t show it, Vander was happy with her proposal.
“What do you think?” He turned towards his friend. If Alex was surprised, he didn’t show it. It was how their group183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKPsWKA122
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ7qtEGNma
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6sSo6lOpX
them, and it would be a good lesson for these recruits as well.
“I’m down, but don’t come crying to me when you lose.” Alex growled.
“I have a better idea though.” Vander removed his jacket before handing it to Alex. “How about the five of you fight183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKTGXfiOMv
me? I want to see how much you all have improved.”
“Do we get something if we win?” Briar asked. “Otherwise, it won’t be fun for us. I’d rather get beaten up trying to183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GZj1Ip5yi
get something than nothing at all.”
“Do the rest of you agree?” They all looked at each other then nodded their heads. Vander thought for a moment183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFTzyDnmm5
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3sxqCCD5o
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxqzugIADZ
which will include drinks.”
“Aw yeah!” They got their feet and cheered. The food in Eluvia was much better than the food they had out here.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjQbY0lDYz
The fact they wouldn’t have to pay was just a bonus.
“Settle down!” Vander shouted over them. “If you want a wager, there must be something in it for me as well. If I beat you, you will go183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoBcvifMVZ
for a run in the forest with twenty pounds added to your packs.”
“Anything but that.” Rooster groaned.
“Come on,” Vander grinned. “Out of all the things I could ask you to do, a run through the woods is small by183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfobM7t270a
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kOQaReW98
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZhUPLvbSA
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqafreJ6m0W
good to tell them that now.
“Mind if I go first?” Rooster got up from his spot on the ground and went to stand in front of his mentor.
“What would you like to fight with?” Vander asked. “Swords, knives, fists? Take your pick, whatever you want.”
“Swords please.” Vander nodded to Alex who walked towards the fence where their weapons were hanging up. They didn’t183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOETXgxv4bY
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQkUQqq2w3
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv65kkuV1Rd
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfdHM4E64Y
could still build muscle and train how to use them.
Alex handed one of the swords to Vander before crossing the field to hand the second to Rooster. He stood in183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3f7x8I8qb
between them, off on the side, and raised his hand. “Begin!” He shouted.
Rooster being the plucky little kid he was, launched himself forward swinging the lump of metal aiming for Vander’s183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vHnLauihU
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3XaQEAvZ0
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboNdIP4lYv
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme4SfjD9wS
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkXvl0vsyd
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1uhT2aFHN
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLwyhEVYVc
flushed with anger.
“Swings are wide, and you rush in when you should be a little more cautious.” Vander said. He held out his hand which183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAilLSr8lJq
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeELJHVmmZV
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8ycq2BcfJ
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlQoOYo1JV
his spot on the ground.
Chicken shook her head which didn’t really surprise him. She wasn’t much of a fighter preferring the safety of183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPjEGncI1n
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdp4yZBKBR
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnnYCrZ0yb
weights and sat down next to her brother.
“Do you mind if we come at you together?” Briar and Forest asked. That was surprise to him as he didn’t think183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs9h1O26vt
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg97sig2EEr
Perhaps they would surprise him so he would allow it this time.
“What weapons would you like to use?” The two of them looked at each other before nodding.
“Bare hands.” A surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Vander stripped off his jacket and tossed it to Alexander. The183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcUsls9oU7
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qLUzajIFe
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlNoUf6F4N
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVPwj0AGJY
at attention then smiled.
“Whenever you’re ready.” Forest and Briar raced off in opposite directions trying to get him in a pincer movement. While he was focused on one, the other could take his back and grapple him before he had a chance to defend himself. So, he did what anyone in his position would do, he struck first. He went after Forest because he was the strongest of the two. He must not have expected the attacked because he barely had time to defending himself from the punch Vander threw at him. Forest blocked directing the strike away, but it clipped his ear. He stumbled sideways clutching the side of his head. Vander grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in front as Briar came in with own punch. She collided with Forest and knocked him to the ground.
“I’m so sorry.” Briar gasped. She held her hand to her mouth as she watched Forest struggle to his feet.
“You shouldn’t take your eyes off your opponent.” Vander whispered in her ear. She spun around to hit him but was too183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tpYmYokCm
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYzMcteZkD
finished her with a punch to the jaw knocking her to the ground.
“Briar!” Forest struggled to his feet. Vander kicked him in the ribs knocking him back down.
“If they two of you are going to be worried about each other during a fight, you leave yourselves open.” Vander183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFeo73bblJ
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYogYtVPZBj
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47xpscvWEB
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOYz1XTUOS
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ4S2YeFIm
sustained would last a few days. It would be a painful lesson for them.
“This makes it my turn.” Eve got up from the ground and brushed off her pants. She walked over to the rack then183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegAdrv6o68
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiw16FSDBX
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESiKT2XCzj
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlERWFIqeE
other in an underhand grip.
“Would you like me to use daggers as well?” Vander asked.
“Use whatever makes you comfortable.” She shrugged. He rolled his shoulders and motioned for her to come at him. She183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCT2RL0aVU
didn’t hesitate to rise to the challenge.
The fight was quick and brutal. She was quick with the slashes, but as they were lumps of metal, they didn’t really183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow3GFrQvh1
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ToBW9NY2J
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqxqfxMzI8
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrN8wLQuGF
away. Daggers, like fists, were an intimate way to try and kill someone.
As Eve stabbed down with a dagger, Vander brought his arm up to block the strike. At the same time, she stabbed up183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvoETaRM0F
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6ltMswqnq
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh63nfEr7Td
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlVQ2XZBiR
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1hFgNADQ7
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9yawQaNF0
brought her head back then slammed it into Vander’s face.
He felt his nose crunch under the blood. He stumbled backwards clutching his hand over his gushing nose. Between183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQx4ZEyOgH
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx01WtbA19Y
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS61dKawl1q
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqusJJddbt
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsONAxBOx1
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCscb8d6sq8
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PV5mwYx8E
ground, but he was heavier and stronger than she was.
“I yield.” She gasped. Vander got up off her and took the handkerchief Alex offered him to staunch his bleeding183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRP4jiwEJ8
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1VPDYd477
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O2j8yx23J
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA28SGENvko
blood out onto the grass.
“I’m lucky I have more experience with these kinds of fights.” He explained. “In a few more years she would have183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyFgjhF3e1
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWzZUwmk3b
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g7Z9JG5HU
fighting.” Alex explained. “It’s a mess.”
“Eve is the strongest of the group, but I’ve seen the way she looks at them. Seems she thinks they are dead weight.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxfLrlvRo7
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmGz2PPx7l
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkF2k9n8A5
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ywkNk35qQ
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV0cHlOUgi
feet before trotting after the recruits.
“I’ll get lunch ready.” The two of them went their separate ways.
After Vander washed his face and changed his clothes, he sat down in his chair willing himself to relax. In the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv9lbS9bbN
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoNtSfJfmD
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU5X60jxCJ
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTRPHtG4oD
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpNGegef1w
open the door then jumped onto the bed to curl up and go to sleep.
As he sat watching her, he remembered the letter from his grandfather that had come earlier. Grabbed his knife, he183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6Og0a1GnP
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQxzHk8jzz
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHtwO7281W
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CUR8FQ3Uy
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhEfBdEjEn
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErcg0F2WPx
trust me on this, come back.
-Your grandfather, Charles
P.S. This is a Red Alert.
Once he read the Red Alert, he knew that it was an emergency. Only a couple of things would warrant his grandfather putting that in a letter recalling him and none of it was good. The rest of the letter didn’t matter to him. He crumbled it up and slipped it into his pocket. He rushed outside to call the others to him.
They would have to leave tomorrow.
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